Left London for the suburbs - hate it

[Whereishome22]

Feeling miserable about this situation so want to at least have hope on the horizon! Moved from a part of London I loved to zone 6 suburbs end of last year and absolutely loathe it. It's a cultural wasteland, nothing to do, need to drive everywhere (which I can't yet), takes ages to get into work, and no local parks or playgrounds (two small kids). Suffering serious buyers remorse but anywhere I'd live in London has shot up in price Vs here, which has stayed steady.

So I want to leave and start anew in a town/ small city and want your help!

Budget is £850k, need at least 3 bedrooms but ideally more/annexe. Want a house with period features (not cottage more Victorian/Edwardian/1930s), at least 100 foot garden, good schools (this doesn't necessarily mean grammar schools) within walking distance, things to do, cinema, swimming pool, fruit and veg market, actually useful shops rather than gift shops and to be able to get a nice coffee, vegan food every now and then. Family in the South so don't want to be too far from them (i.e. Wales, Scotland, NE/SW England) and will need to commute to London one day a week (but don't mind it being a long one)

Places on the shortlist are:
Folkestone
Norwich
Tonbridge
Faversham

Any other ideas?

Recently moved to Berkhamsted, great area, lots to do both for children and adults. Our kids are older so we have have spent the last 6 months eating our way through the high street and trying out all the pubs. Just over 30 minutes on the train, takes you into Euston. A friend of mine with 2 younger children also moved here and is also very happy, one is about to start full time school and the other nursery. The town and houses have lots of character and although you could buy here within your budget, it might be a property that requires work. Good luck

Winchester
New Forest
Bishops Stortford / Sawbridgeworth

Dorset. Southbourne, Bournemouth area or into Poole. Train into London. So many gorgeous parks, beaches, countryside, easy to walk, bus, cycle, beautiful harbours, lots of different towns, cinemas, shops, restaurants, events going on all over the place from food festivals, comedy shows, gigs, theatre, outside events to so many family things and National Trust places. It’s busy a bit in the Summer but it’s a long coastline and there’s still so much to do. Countryside is beautiful too. Amazing quality of life. Plus when you are local you will figure out where to go to avoid the tourists 😉🫢

I’d cross Bedford off list. Cultural wasteland. Leamington spa is lovely but don’t know about schools. Market Harborough. East Bergholt outside Colchester. My cousin recently moved there with 13 y/o DS. Absolutely love it. One hour from Liverpool Street and lots of nice pubs etc.

Bishops Stortford
saffron Walden (Audley End Station) - 40 mins to Tottenham Hale and about 50mins Liverpool Street - Saffron Walden County High, Hills Road Sixth Form
great Chesterford
whittlesford
cambridge - 45 mins to Kings Cross and Liverpool Street just over an hour

I live in Broadstairs, next to Ramsgate. Moved from London about 16 years ago. It’s grammar schools here - meaning great schools and not so great schools for those who don’t pass the test. The council has had significant cuts - its struggling. We have a real gap between the rich and poor - significant deprivation in some wards. On the plus side great beaches, lots going on especially if you like art and live music. Lots of Young families moving from London and a good community spirit. However, visited Norwich as son will be moving there for uni - would move there in a heartbeat - it’s beautiful and thriving. I loved it.

Leafy Buckinghamshire would be a great area for you. I live just 5 minutes from the M40 services, in between Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield (great for late night/early morning fancying McDonalds) which will take you to the M4 in each direction (as well as M40 to Oxford and beyond) and on the doorstep of beautiful nature reserves and parklands. Schools are good around here, although I have been out of that system for a good many years now (son is 27). Local train stations nearby are a choice of two very mainline into either Slough to Paddington or GX to Marylebone (Marylebone is better from personal experience and nearer for me). This part of the world is central to everywhere else as the transport links, be it road, rail or air, are good. Good luck with your search.

I’m guessing Orpington

Bishop's Stortford or Leigh-on-Sea

So this is well within your budget, South Wales, opposite the sea, 2 hrs Cardiff to Paddington. I know where I'd rather live!
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122710703#/?channel=RES_BUY

Wiltshire. Grammar schools in Salisbury or otherwise outstanding. (1 hour from London Paddington) However not multi cultural, 72%of property goes to London escapees . Underfunded sen provision and some towns don't allow takeaways or suchlike. It can be very cliquey. I am a local but DH is a big city boy. DS moving back from London, DD hates it. You take your chances in the country.

I live in Winchester and it’s great - good schools, good amenities, quick train to London and not far to the coast either. Events like the Hat Fair (street theatre festival), Christmas market at the Cathedral and lots of groups (eg parkrun, sports clubs, choirs).

Your budget might be a bit tight to get what you want near the station, but take a look a little further out, maybe cycle in.

Bristol is lovely. Lots going on and quite a vibrant atmosphere. Not sure how far your money will go though.

You'd struggle in Tooting to get a small terraced house under £1 million tho

Brighton is the best but I am biased!

Try Leigh-on-Sea ! Close enough to London to commute and do stuff there, but very much it's own place with things going on / to do.

You’d get a cracking house around warwick/leamington/Stratford for that budget - train into London, you’d be in Blackfrairs in about 1 hr45m. Stratford lots going on and it has Grammar school too.

Have you considered Surbiton?

This place

good area, commute to London via train into Waterloo

You'd struggle in Tooting to get a small terraced house under £1 million tho

No you wouldn't

how about Stroud or Cirencester

Bath house prices have been on a par with London for a long time so not sure why people are suggesting there as someone you’d get what you want. You might find what you’re looking for in Bristol but it’ll be in an “up and coming” area (i.e a bit shit).

I have no idea what the prices are like now but we lived in the East side of Ipswich. I loved it, regular busses to the train station, fast line to London Liverpool and good schools. I have friends in Colchester and I'd love to live there too.

Look at Salisbury , great schools , plenty to do and only an hour+20 from Waterloo.

Letchworth garden city or Hitchin 30mins to kings cross would get a stunning house for that money x